Confederations Cup could be called off after one million people take to streeets to protest in Brazil

The Confederations Cup could be abandoned because of protests which have swept
Brazil, according to local media.

CBN radio and the website of the Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper, both respected, mainstream media, are carrying reports speculating that the eight-team tournament, considered a dry run for next year's World Cup, is in danger.

"Fifa will claim compensation from Brazil if the Confederations Cup has to be suspended," said a headline on CBN's website.

An estimated one million people took to the streets in cities across Brazil on Thursday as the country's biggest protests in two decades intensified, despite government concessions meant to quell them.

The protests, now in their second week, have been about high taxes, inflation, corruption and poor public services and have also targeted the $26 billion of public money being spent on the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

A CBN report claims one of the eight teams involved is pressuring their leaders to leave the Confederations Cup because they are worried about relatives visiting Brazil to watch the matches.

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"On the legal side, there's a certain degree of confidence on Fifa's part that if the tournament is cancelled, it can launch a claim from the Brazilian government, if there are no safety guarantees for the competition or the World Cup," said the report by Juck Kfouri, a veteran Brazilian sports journalist.

"There is strong speculation, which won't go away," he added, referring to rumours that the competition was in danger.

The Estado says Fifa is negotiating with the teams to try and persuade them to stay.

"The protests in the streets of Brazilian cities have forced Fifa to negotiate with the teams to keep them in the Confederations Cup. By law, if there is no guarantee of safety, it could force the tournament to be cancelled."

The Estado reports that two Fifa vehicles were attacked in Salvador, where Uruguay played Nigeria on Wednesday, and employees have been instructed not to wear uniforms outside their hotel.

No matches have been scheduled for Friday. Play is due to resume on Saturday with Italy facing Brazil in Salvador and Japan playing Mexico in Belo Horizonte.